The cvt has really grown on me.

All of my past cars, cobalt ss/sc, ser spec v, escort gt turbo, ion redline, 91 ef hatch, gd3, were stick shift.
As silly as it may sound to some, i think this drivetrain combination has some real potential.
Kinda reminds me of my ol arctic cat sled, no gears, no hesitation, just pulls and pulls.

I really, really hope someone fabs up a supercharger for the gk platform <<---deadly.

As long as the cvt doesn't grenade on me, I have no regrets getting it.

 

I completely agree with you, this CVT is really nice, specially in city driving.
I will concede that you don't feel connected to he car as with a manual, but on the oher hand I find that I drive this car in a less agressive way, much less stress in traffic.

I'm 56 years old and this is the first automatic in my whole family (my mother at 81 drives a M/T Suzuki Swift, she has never owned an auto).
This is not uncommon in Uruguay, where I live, even almost all rentals are M/T, I know no one here that drives and doesn't know how to drive a M/T car.

 

Your mother is awesome! I don't mean that in a bad way.


I'll admit, the CVT would suck for me if I just stepped on the gas pedal in 'D' and hope for the best. That ain't fun! And it's not using the transmission to any potential at all. There are options though. Paddle shifter usage (if you have that). Simply utilizing the 'L' gear and 'S' gear while modulating the gas pedal allows me to drive the car very aggressively. It's a blast to drive!

Try driving the manual transmission aggressively by keeping it in 5th gear and that is pretty much what it feels like with the CVT by simply leaving it in 'D' and flooring the gas pedal.

 

Really? I doubt that the CVT sits at one ratio regardless of the throttle position. In fact, the whole point of the CVT is that it automatically adjusts the ratio to provide the power you're asking for with the accelerator.

The bugaboo is that there is some delay in the CVT ratio adjustment whereas a talented driver can anticipate the need for a different ratio with a manual. This requires the driver to be actively thinking of the needed gear change. If you wait until the engine drops out of the power curve you're behind the CVT.

 

I use the paddles, but I'm scared I'm putting strain in a belt.
I not sure if heavy 'downshifting' to use the engine to slow the car wouldn't make the belt slip a small tiny bit each time, destroying it in the long run.
It might be me just freaking out, but I'll treat this CVT nicely until sure of its reliability.

 

I do anticipate to the need of a higher ratio using the CVT paddles.

 

Here's an idea. Maybe my next Fit/Honda will be a CVT so I can have BOTH and have it all

 

You are right! I should've been clearer. I simply meant that just flooring the gas pedal in a CVT feels (to me) like the equivalent to just flooring a car in a manual tranny in a higher gear. Not that it actually stays in one gear, which of course it doesn't do. My bad for the confusion.

 

Now here's a wild idea:

There is no reason why the position of the CVT belt cannot be controlled directly by a driver-actuated lever. The driver could literally change ratios continuously at WOT and without regard to synching engine and transmission for reengagement! It would be like a sequential shift manual transmission with infinite ratios The best of both worlds!

Of course, with greater control comes greater responsibility. Whanging the lever back and forth irresponsibly would result in engine or transmission damage, but that is always possible in manuals.

 

I am hoping to accomplish this via aftermarket ECU. Was hoping to be able to change what rpm the CVT sits at Wide Open Throttle, depending on your modifications and where your max hp is. Then also be able to change the gearing to not only what gear you are in but how long you stay in that gear as well, to maximize acceleration.

Then theirs carbon fiber belts for longevity, that I've asked a manufacturer or two about.

Then lightweight CVT driven and drive pulleys to speed up acceleration.

The aftermarket just needs to move on these things and be creative (which they are). There's so much potential here.

 

To me it's not about the clutch, as such. But I can get into any MT car out there, do all I want in it and still be gentle on the clutch. No mystery about it at all and worst case, a new clutch isn't as spendy as a new unit.

 

After 45 years of manuals, I will be buying a CVT. I'm just tired of shifting.

 

Enjoy your retirement. You've earned it.

 

Manual vs. CVT courtesy of Myxalplyx!

 

To each their own and I can see pros/cons to each transmission. I chose the CVT because the Fit is never going to be more than "peppy" for me and that's really fine with me. I really enjoy driving the car but it's important to dampen the noise (lower RPMs) on the highway so I can talk on the phone...especially for my frequent business calls. I admit that the CVT sounds like a leaf blower but it pulls well and seems to optimize performance in reality (versus "feel"). I find myself smiling when I put my foot down but it's more like "wee!" versus the "WWWOOOOW!!!!!" experienced with my 335i manual with 4.8 sec 0-60 stats and face-ripping cornering capabilities. I've now set the bar at modifying my Fit enough to beat my wife's 2014 Honda Odyssey since I was horrified to learn she's quicker on paper. :-)

 

1. the manual hsas highergearing hence more noise at interstate speeds
2. on track the cvt is faster becauseit shifts quicker, worth about a second in 3 minutes
3. with paddles you can shift just like sebastian in his ferrari
4 the auto willhave higher resale value.

 

1.) Yes. And instantaneous acceleration b/c you're already in the car's powerband.

2.) LOL NO. mxyalphyx (apologies if misspelled) has already showcased the CVT is rather useless around an autox course.

3.) No. You can't. Well I mean...you could probably lose with it like Sebastian

4.) Yep. As there really are loads of lazy people.

 

I think the cvt is ok for a/x. Tighter turns can make it hard to shift if needed when the steering wheel is wound up, but it can be hard w/ a mt sometimes as well. the paddles make it easy to shift in places I wouldn't otherwise shift. Example, first run I might try to sort out what gear I need to be in (2nd or 3rd mostly)but if there's a tight hairpin I might drop to 1st to keep the revs up.

I found keeping the cvt in 2nd or third almost the whole course works most of the time, much like a manual.

 

5.) You kids get off my lawn!

I think Myxal has an LX, which doesn't have the paddles. The paddles are in some ways just like a MT, just no clutch needed and you can keep both hands on the wheel. It feels and sounds like one. Up shifting doesn't require lifting off the gas so it sounds like power shifting a motorcycle if your familiar with that. I really believe a CVT has the potential to out perform a manual in many circumstances and is every bit as fun to A/x if you have the paddles ( and can use them efficiently). I haven't tried it yet in D ( motorboat mode) so I don't know if it works or not. If the cvt didn't have paddles I don't think I would like it either.

 

Does the CVT limit when you can up/down shift? Will it upshift on its own in S mode if you're bouncing limiter?

Every auto I've ever driven has done so, if the CVT does it...its useless.